Sanchez Obliterates Riggs, Eyes Shot at Title
Mike Sloan Dec 14, 2006
There has been plenty of talk as of late about Albuquerque, New
Mexico native Diego
Sanchez (Pictures) getting a crack at the UFC
welterweight title, provided he was victorious at the Marine Corp
Air Station Miramar, just north of San Diego, Calif., against
Joe Riggs (Pictures).
Nothing had been etched in stone regarding Sanchez' proposed title shot, but if tonight's performance is any indication of things to come against contenders at 170 pounds, "The Nightmare" might challenge Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) sooner than he thinks.
"I am very patient with my career,” Sanchez said after destroying
Riggs in less than two minutes. “I am only 24 years old. I ain't
got no rush. Some more experience, whatever it takes. Whatever the
Lord has in store for me, that is what will happen."
“The Nightmare” sized up his blonde-haired foe for several moments before the two met in the center of the Octagon, where each landed right crosses at the same time.
Riggs was out the moment the knee crashed into his face and once “Diesel” fell over face first Sanchez delivered three thunderous right hands for good measure before referee John McCarthy shoved him off his unconscious opponent. The official time of the knockout came at just 1:45 of the first round, improving Sanchez to an impressive 17-0-0.
The brutal knockout, the first of Sanchez’ career, sets up potential showdowns with former champion Matt Hughes (Pictures), current champ Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) or possible titlist Matt Serra (Pictures).
Sanchez has worked diligently on his striking and was just waiting for the moment to display his newfound power. Wednesday night he was given that opportunity, seizing it like any true warrior would.
"I told everybody that I was improving but I didn't want to rush it," Sanchez said of his improved stand-up game. "I just wanted to let it take time and eventually one day it would come. It finally came. I never think like that (about scoring a KO). I just like to get in there and let the techniques and everything else come into play. And that's what happens."
Obviously Sanchez will have to wait for his title shot and like he told Joe Rogan after the fight, he is no hurry. Sanchez has passed every test the UFC has thrown his way, and this victory demonstrated how deadly he really is. His striking has always been a weak point, but after watching him blow away Riggs (25-9-0, 1 NC), many will wonder just how good Sanchez can become.
For all his efforts, the 24-year-old Riggs did everything he could and was rumored to have been in the best shape of his life. Riggs just got caught at the wrong time and was unable to escape.
In what could be dubbed the co-main event during Spike TV’s broadcast of UFC Fight Night, which brought together nearly 3,000 Marines inside a spacious airplane hanger, Karo Parisyan (Pictures) badly wanted to exorcise the demons that have haunted him since he dropped a spirited decision to Sanchez several months back.
After three grueling rounds with the durable Drew Fickett (Pictures), Parisyan can finally get some sleep after winning a unanimous decision — but that’s not to say that the Armenian judo expert had a walk in the park.
Parisyan endured a gutsy effort from Fickett that transpired into what was easily the best-televised fight of the night. Both men suffered nasty gashes on their faces during a bout in which the welterweight contenders gave everything in a classic seesaw battle of technique, stamina and determination.
It was Parisyan who remained at least one step ahead, thus winning the fight via tallies of 30-27 on all three official judges’ scorecards.
Josh Koscheck (Pictures) was simply too much for UFC newcomer Jeff Joslin (Pictures), as the wrestlers immense strength and awesome grappling abilities were what paved his way to victory.
Joslin’s only real chance at toppling the popular Koscheck was during stand-up exchanges, but even then Koscheck simply shot in and scored powerful and dramatic slams at will.
Koscheck was able to expertly ground-and-pound his way towards a unanimous decision win, scoring the victory with official tallies of 30-27 on all three cards. But while the fight was a landslide on paper, Joslin made Koscheck earn every point in the scrap. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt worked from his back nicely and avoided the majority of Koscheck’s attacks, yet the Canadian was unable to apply any sort of submission or inflict any real damage.
In what was the opening bout of the televised portion of the card, popular and charismatic Shonie Carter (Pictures) was beaten to the punch in almost every facet by Marcus Davis. Most expected Carter to score the victory but tonight it was all Davis.
Carter predicted a submission over his foe at just 1:47 of the first round, but "Mr. International" was as accurate with his pre-fight prediction as he was with his telegraphed strikes.
The fight turned out to be a less-than-stellar affair, with little action over the course of three full rounds. The packed hanger showered the combatants with boos towards the end of the third round, after which Davis took a unanimous decision with scores of 30-26, 20-27 and 29-28.
Though Davis, a former professional boxer, dominated action, it was not as thrilling of a battle as he expected. The only real highlight of the tussle came midway through the second round when Davis staggered and dropped Carter with a straight right hand. But the crafty veteran of over 100 pro MMA fights was able to withstand the attrition.
Off TV bouts:
David Heath (Pictures) def. Victor Valimaki split decision 3R
Alan Belcher (Pictures) def. Jorge Santiago (Pictures) KO 2:45 R3
Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) def. Dave Menne (Pictures) TKO 4:44 R1
Brock Larson def. Keita Nakamura (Pictures) unanimous decision 3R
Logan Clark def. Steve Byrnes (Pictures) unanimous decision 3R
Nothing had been etched in stone regarding Sanchez' proposed title shot, but if tonight's performance is any indication of things to come against contenders at 170 pounds, "The Nightmare" might challenge Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) sooner than he thinks.
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“The Nightmare” sized up his blonde-haired foe for several moments before the two met in the center of the Octagon, where each landed right crosses at the same time.
Sanchez had a bit more behind his and was more on point than Riggs,
thus dropping the Phoenix-area fighter onto his trunks. Sanchez
took a step back because Riggs' punch opened a slight laceration
over his left eye, but once Diego noticed his adversary on the
canvas he rushed in like a torpedo and detonated a right knee onto
Riggs' jaw.
Riggs was out the moment the knee crashed into his face and once “Diesel” fell over face first Sanchez delivered three thunderous right hands for good measure before referee John McCarthy shoved him off his unconscious opponent. The official time of the knockout came at just 1:45 of the first round, improving Sanchez to an impressive 17-0-0.
The brutal knockout, the first of Sanchez’ career, sets up potential showdowns with former champion Matt Hughes (Pictures), current champ Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) or possible titlist Matt Serra (Pictures).
Sanchez has worked diligently on his striking and was just waiting for the moment to display his newfound power. Wednesday night he was given that opportunity, seizing it like any true warrior would.
"I told everybody that I was improving but I didn't want to rush it," Sanchez said of his improved stand-up game. "I just wanted to let it take time and eventually one day it would come. It finally came. I never think like that (about scoring a KO). I just like to get in there and let the techniques and everything else come into play. And that's what happens."
Obviously Sanchez will have to wait for his title shot and like he told Joe Rogan after the fight, he is no hurry. Sanchez has passed every test the UFC has thrown his way, and this victory demonstrated how deadly he really is. His striking has always been a weak point, but after watching him blow away Riggs (25-9-0, 1 NC), many will wonder just how good Sanchez can become.
For all his efforts, the 24-year-old Riggs did everything he could and was rumored to have been in the best shape of his life. Riggs just got caught at the wrong time and was unable to escape.
In what could be dubbed the co-main event during Spike TV’s broadcast of UFC Fight Night, which brought together nearly 3,000 Marines inside a spacious airplane hanger, Karo Parisyan (Pictures) badly wanted to exorcise the demons that have haunted him since he dropped a spirited decision to Sanchez several months back.
After three grueling rounds with the durable Drew Fickett (Pictures), Parisyan can finally get some sleep after winning a unanimous decision — but that’s not to say that the Armenian judo expert had a walk in the park.
Parisyan endured a gutsy effort from Fickett that transpired into what was easily the best-televised fight of the night. Both men suffered nasty gashes on their faces during a bout in which the welterweight contenders gave everything in a classic seesaw battle of technique, stamina and determination.
It was Parisyan who remained at least one step ahead, thus winning the fight via tallies of 30-27 on all three official judges’ scorecards.
Josh Koscheck (Pictures) was simply too much for UFC newcomer Jeff Joslin (Pictures), as the wrestlers immense strength and awesome grappling abilities were what paved his way to victory.
Joslin’s only real chance at toppling the popular Koscheck was during stand-up exchanges, but even then Koscheck simply shot in and scored powerful and dramatic slams at will.
Koscheck was able to expertly ground-and-pound his way towards a unanimous decision win, scoring the victory with official tallies of 30-27 on all three cards. But while the fight was a landslide on paper, Joslin made Koscheck earn every point in the scrap. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt worked from his back nicely and avoided the majority of Koscheck’s attacks, yet the Canadian was unable to apply any sort of submission or inflict any real damage.
In what was the opening bout of the televised portion of the card, popular and charismatic Shonie Carter (Pictures) was beaten to the punch in almost every facet by Marcus Davis. Most expected Carter to score the victory but tonight it was all Davis.
Carter predicted a submission over his foe at just 1:47 of the first round, but "Mr. International" was as accurate with his pre-fight prediction as he was with his telegraphed strikes.
The fight turned out to be a less-than-stellar affair, with little action over the course of three full rounds. The packed hanger showered the combatants with boos towards the end of the third round, after which Davis took a unanimous decision with scores of 30-26, 20-27 and 29-28.
Though Davis, a former professional boxer, dominated action, it was not as thrilling of a battle as he expected. The only real highlight of the tussle came midway through the second round when Davis staggered and dropped Carter with a straight right hand. But the crafty veteran of over 100 pro MMA fights was able to withstand the attrition.
Off TV bouts:
David Heath (Pictures) def. Victor Valimaki split decision 3R
Alan Belcher (Pictures) def. Jorge Santiago (Pictures) KO 2:45 R3
Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) def. Dave Menne (Pictures) TKO 4:44 R1
Brock Larson def. Keita Nakamura (Pictures) unanimous decision 3R
Logan Clark def. Steve Byrnes (Pictures) unanimous decision 3R
